And what does it do? My air compressor cannot get above 60 PSI, it should get to 120 psi. I noticed this piece is where I am losing pressure. Can I replace it?
Compressor cold start valve
Supposed to allow air through until certain pressure and then it closes. Basically the opposite of over pressure valve. It allows motor to start without having to build pressure for a few revolutions.
Pretty easy part to replace. Google should find you many.
I took it apart to clean, and the o-ring is shot. Will get a new o-ring tomorrow. Thanks for your help everyone!
It looks like it could be a cold start valve.
From Google: “An air compressor cold start valve bleeds air from the compressor head during the first few pump revolutions, reducing torque requirements for starting a motor. This helps the compressor start easier.”
brass thingy
UPDATE: Changed the o-ring and it holds pressure now.
Looks like a pressure release/safety valve, and yes you can replace it. But it looks like you might want to try cleaning it out first.
Agreed, It looks fairly easy to disassemble and clean. I would attempt that before replacing. You may find a YouTube vid or two showing how. Pvc thread tape is your friend. Dirt in the valve will stop it from closings properly as pressure builds.
I have one of these on my espresso machine - it’s a pressure valve. When the pressure is high enough, it will force the valve closed so that the pressure can continue to build. When you turn it off, pressure drops back down and the valve opens up to release the pressure - so your device isn’t getting stored with a bunch of built-up pressure when you’re not using it.
It should be pretty easy to take apart and clean out - there’s only one moving part in there, just the “needle” that slides up into place to seal the hole. If nothing else, it should be pretty cheap to replace.
